Organic chemistry Ph.D. candidate Gabriella Cooper (Harran Group) was among 25 rising fifth-year graduate students selected from across the United States to present their research at the 2025 ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Graduate Research Symposium (GRS).
Cooper delivered a lecture titled “Heterocycle-Mediated Hydrogen Bond Networks Enabling the Passive Permeability of Peptidomimetic Macrobicycles” on July 19.
The GRS, organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Organic Chemistry, was held at San Diego State University from July 17–20, 2025. The annual symposium provides a platform for outstanding graduate students in organic chemistry to share their research and engage with leaders from academia, industry, and funding agencies.
Cooper earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Northeastern University, where she conducted research on cysteine protease inhibitors targeting neglected tropical diseases under the mentorship of Professor Lori Ferrins. She also completed medicinal chemistry internships at EMD Serono and Goldfinch Bio, where she synthesized small molecules to support drug discovery efforts.
After graduating, Cooper joined UCLA’s Chemistry & Biochemistry graduate program, working in Professor Patrick Harran’s group. Cooper’s research focuses on designing and synthesizing complex peptidomimetic macrobicycles with embedded heterocyclic motifs to enhance passive membrane permeability.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
